Contributions of the extracurricular internship for professional competencies: the perception of nursing undergraduates

Abstract

http://dx.doi.org/10.5216/ree.v14i2.10364

The objective of the present study was to describe and analyze how nursing undergraduates, interns at a public hospital in Belo Horizonte (MG), perceive the ideal (desired) and real (effective) contributions of the extracurricular internship towards the development of professional competencies, considering its importance in the students’ education and training during the course. This is a quantitative, descriptive study. Data collection was performed through application of a questionnaire with 30 students who were attending an extracurricular internship at the referred hospital. Results show that, from the ideal and the real perspective, this type of activity plays an essential role in the development of the students’ professional competencies. The differences identified between the addressed levels of perception indicated that there is a need for broader pedagogical interventions to improve the teaching and learning processes.